Gluten-Free Candy, as of March 2013

Each year, it seems like more manufacturers identify candy as gluten-free, widening the choices for candy-loving kids and parents alike. As of March 2013, those who follow a gluten-free diet have numerous choices, including various long-time kid favorites such as Nestle’s Butterfinger candy bars and Jelly Belly jelly beans.

It’s always possible to find gluten-free specialty candies, such as the gluten-free, vegan gummy bears available from Let’s Do Organic and the gluten-free, low-sugar fudge sold by Diabetic Direct. But since your neighbors likely will pass out more mainstream treats on Halloween night, it’s helpful to know which ones are safe.

Here are the latest U.S. gluten-free lists of candies as of March 2013, plus links to manufacturers’ websites.

However, please remember to use these lists only as a guide, since ingredients and formulas can change at any time. In some cases, a product made at one location may be listed as gluten-free, while the same product made at a different location may not be gluten-free. Also, candy listed as gluten-free on the U.S. list may not be gluten-free in other countries. Always check the packaging and ingredients before consuming any candy, even if it does appear on this list. Always, if in doubt about the gluten-free status of a product, contact the manufacturer’s customer service personnel directly at the numbers listed below.

Nestle USA considers “gluten-free” to mean “no gluten ingredients are in the product, whether directly added, or potentially present due to cross-contact. If a product label has an allergen advisory statement such as ‘made on equipment’ or ‘facility that also processes wheat etc.,’ we do not consider that product to be gluten-free. It is important to always read product labels/packaging for the most accurate information.” Nestle will label potential gluten cross contamination, a customer service representative says.

Mars Chocolate makes M&M’s, Dove, Snickers and other products. The company urges gluten-free consumers to check labels, even if a product normally is gluten-free; in busy times of year (such as Halloween), Mars uses alternative facilities to make its candy, and some of those may introduce cross-contamination risks. The company says it will label any gluten ingredients or cross-contamination.

Warning: At least some packages of two relatively new varieties of M&Ms — coconut and mint flavors — include the warning “May contain wheat” on their labels as of October 2012. Other varieties — including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut and almond — don’t contain that warning. In addition, I saw Mars several seasonal products, including M&Ms candy corn, that featured the “May contain wheat” warning. Always read the label before purchasing.

Tootsie Roll Industries, which also makes Charms products, says that, as of October 2012, all of the companies confections are considered gluten-free with the exception of Andes cookies. “We do not use wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, spelt or any of their components and that includes our dusting on our conveyor belts. We do use corn and soy products in the manufacturing of our products.”

According to Tootsie Rolls Industries, the following candies are gluten-free:

Most of Smarties’ line of products is considered gluten-free and vegan, according to the company. However, Smarties sells its products to different “re-baggers” as well as various retail outlets. Since a re-bagger buys products from many different companies and then places them in different packaging, only re-baggers can verify whether their manufacturing plants are free of gluten or other allergens. “If the UPC number on the packaging begins with ‘0 11206,’ you can be assured that the product was packaged in one of our manufacturing facilities,” which means it should be gluten-free,” the company says. Smarties Gummies contain no gluten ingredients, but are manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat-containing products.

After several years of listing only a few products as gluten-free, Hershey’s published a gluten-free list as of March 2012 that includes several more products, mainly Hershey’s Kisses varieties. As of October 2012, the following list of Hershey’s candies are gluten-free:

Almond Joy (all)

Mounds (all)

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses

Hershey’s Filled Chocolate Kisses (caramel and cherry cordial creme)

Hershey’s Nuggets

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar, only in the 1.55 oz. size

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bar, only in the 1.45 oz. size

Heath Bars

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (all except for seasonal shaped items)

Skor

Skor Toffee Bar

York Peppermint Pattie (all)

The following Hershey’s products are NOT gluten-free:

Hershey’s Special Dark Bar

Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme Bar

Hershey’s Air Delight

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Drops

Hershey’s Miniatures

Mr. Goodbar

Symphony Bar

Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate

Hershey’s says it will list any ingredients containing wheat, barley, rye, oats and malt on the label, and also will disclose shared equipment or shared facilities on the label. Hershey’s gluten-free list includes baking chips and bars, cocoa products and syrup; you can access the list here.

Wrigley makes chewing gum and other candy products (for more on gluten-free gum, see the link above). According to the company, “all U.S. Wrigley chewing gum and confection products have been assessed to be gluten-free with the exception of the products listed below, which contain ingredient(s) derived from wheat or are made on shared equipment that also processes products with wheat and may contain trace amounts of gluten.” Here’s the list of Wrigley products that do contain gluten:

However, other Jelly Belly candies, including Chocolate Malt Balls, Chocolate Bridge Mix, Licorice Bridge Mix, Black Licorice Buttons and Licorice Pastels, are NOT gluten-free. In addition, seasonal mixes sold around the holidays contain the malt balls, and so are not gluten-free.

Necco probably is best known for its small sugar Valentine heart candies – the pastel-colored ones that say “Be Mine” and “True Love” – but my daughter’s candy stash often turns up a few Necco products every Halloween, as well.

According to Necco, the following products do not contain gluten from wheat, rye, oats or barley:

Peeps marshmallow treats, made by Just Born, used to appear only at Easter, but in recent years we’ve seen Halloween Peeps shaped like pumpkins and ghosts, Christmas Peeps in the shape of trees, and heart-shaped Peeps for Valentine’s Day.

According to Just Born, as of October 2012 all the company’s marshmallow candies that are safe from cross-contamination will state “gluten-free” on the package by the ingredients listing. The modified food starch used in the products is corn starch, according to the company. Just Born also makes Mike and Ike Candies.

Tic Tac mints are produced by the Italian confection manufacturer Ferrero, and have been sold for more than 40 years.

According to the company, Tic Tac mints do not contain any ingredients derived from the gluten grains wheat, barley, rye, oats or triticale.

Contact Ferrero at 732-764-9300.

Although these are all supposedly Gluten Free, there is nothing on this list about Non-GMO ingredients and products. Some these companies definitely contributed big bucks to shut down the GMO labeling bill in California not too long ago. Please eat and share wisely this Halloween season.

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